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Record exports helped push the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade up 10.1 per cent year on year in the first nine months of 2026, reaching 2.94 trillion dirhams ($801.9 billion).
Non-oil exports increased 21.6pc to 706bn dirhams, while imports climbed 11.5pc to 1.66trn dirhams. Re-exports totalled 578bn dirhams, according to the Emirates News Agency.
Exports accounted for 24pc of total non-oil trade, compared with 21.7pc a year earlier. Monthly exports exceeded 100bn dirhams for the first time in September.
The increase highlights the UAE’s efforts to diversify its trading partners and strengthen its position as a regional and global economic hub through a series of international trade deals.
Non-oil trade with the 23 countries covered by the 19 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements in force as of October 20 reached around 510.8bn dirhams.
UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi described the CEPAs as playing a ‘pivotal role’ in the exports rise, saying: “They open new markets for UAE exports, ease the movement of goods, lower trade barriers and give national companies wider access to consumers and partners around the world.”
Switzerland, Hong Kong and India were the leading export destinations, with gold, jewellery and tobacco products topping shipments.
Saudi Arabia was the largest destination for re-exports, followed by Iraq and Oman.
Non-oil trade with the 23 countries covered by the 19 CEPAs in force as of October 20 reached around 510.8bn dirhams.
The figures come as the UAE expands its network of agreements designed to lower trade barriers and improve market access.
Its agreement with Vietnam entered into force on February 3, immediately removing tariffs on more than 95 percvent of qualifying goods, including products from free zones, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
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